Shrewsbury Town 3 AFC Telford 1
Erin Vaughan 2 mins
Lorraine Oliver 61 mins
Penny Brown 74 mins

Holders Shrewsbury Town retained the women’s county cup with a comfortable 3-1 victory over AFC Telford. Town made a dream start, taking the lead inside 2 minutes, a Katie Challoner run & cross was headed home by Erin Vaughan. In a nervous first half, neither side could keep possession for long periods, but it was Town who remained on top and created the best chances, through Lorraine Oliver and a Challoner side foot shot that bobbled just wide. Town limited Telford to half chances and went in at the break one up.

Town started the second half brightly, but created few clear chances, failing to trouble the Telford keeper. Town increased their lead on 61 minutes, a 30 yard Casey Starling shot was only parried by the keeper into the path of Lorraine Oliver who scored from close range. Town continued to dominate and their best effort was a Jamie Philips run and shot from some 40 yards that cannoned back off the cross-bar, with the rebound narrowly going wide.

Town were three up on 74 minutes, as Katie Challoner shot, she collided with the Telford keeper and the rebound fell to Captain Penny Brown, who side footed home from a tight angle. Brown who has played in every final since the competition started, celebrated with a forward roll, which was not quite as spectacular as Marco Adaggio’s celebration at the Youth Cup Final !

Town were now dominating the game and were getting stronger and more confident as the game wore on. Telford scored a consolation goal on 89 minutes, but it was Town’s night with their seventh county cup victory out of eight finals.